Thanks to Taryn and Forest for betaing this, even as it mutated… Forest also helped with the research (lots). And thanks to Jemisard – that first Hunk-angst piece shook something loose.
Disclaimer: WEPownsVoltron. Not that they’re doing much with them… {grumbles}
{muse sighs}
Never mind me. My hideously long (if I’m calculating correctly, the whole shebang’s probably going to make Gifts look small) fic’s going slowly because I’m still putting off naming people. I thought I’d have trouble figuring out names for characters… Sort of like I thought I’d have trouble writing lemons… *^^*
Probably would be best to read Seduction and Confrontation first. Even though they’re PWPs, they still managed to relay some crucial background. More than the obvious background. ^^
Oh yeah. Like this is any surprise by now but this is YAOI (graphic m/m). With plot. Shocking, I know. ^^; It wasn’t supposed to have plot, or at least, not this much of a plot, but I was trying to tie up loose ends.
I guess they wanted to flap… For a good long while, too. Would you believe that I thought this was going to be *short*?
{g} One particular part is a Zoe-ism, used with permission. And I think Zoe’s Allura influenced my bunnies… And there might be a few other Zoe-elements in the fic… {G}
WARNING: Non-con. And OOC. Happy ending, though.
Tormenting fingers trail teasingly up and down his erection, causing him to twist and plead for more sensation.
The quiet, harsh, deep voice mutters continuously, against his skin, against his ear, adding more music to the slick sounds of flesh sliding against flesh.
Arching wantonly, he pleads wordlessly for more possession.
After a few more tormenting minutes, his lover responds, and pounds into him, just shy of the force that would tear him apart, controlling every movement of Keith’s body.
Keith muffles his shriek of completion into his pillow; his lover clamps his mouth down hard on Keith’s neck, small sounds escaping around the flesh between his teeth.
Exhausted, his lover falls asleep almost immediately, without easing his possessive hold, snoring into Keith’s neck.
Grimacing in distaste at the stickiness around him, Keith manages to free a corner of the bed sheet to wipe most of the semen away. Sighing quietly, he thoughtfully strokes the arms wrapped tightly around him, even as he stares blindly out into the darkness.
Muttering an oath, Hunk throws his tools across the bay in a sudden burst of temper. Unfortunately, the tool case almost beans Pidge.
“Whoa! Hunk, what’s the matter with you?”
“Not now, Pidge.” Growling, Hunk stalks over and picks up the tools glaring at the red lion, trying to avoid Pidge’s eyes.
“If not now, when? You’re worse than a bear with a sore tooth. I don’t get it. I mean, you’re actually getting some…” Pidge’s sly attempt at humor falls miserably flat.
Hunk rounds on him, barely checked fury in his eyes. With a snarl, he slams his fist into the wall. Sighing, he collapses next to Pidge. “Something’s not right. We’re sleeping together, but he doesn’t seem happy.”
“Well,” Pidge’s reasonable tone is just barely on the side of not irritating. “Why don’t you ask him?”
Hunk glares at Pidge. “Ask Keith?”
Pidge sighs. “Point.”
Grumbling, half-muttering to himself, Hunk continues. “I almost wish Sven was around…”
Startled at the non-sequeter, Pidge’s eyes widen. “Why Sven?”
Turning a dull red, Hunk looks at his feet. “No wonder Keith doesn’t talk to me – I can’t keep my big mouth shut!”
Pidge stares at Hunk, refusing to let him off the hook. “You aren’t going to leave me hanging.”
Sighing, Hunk gives up. Pidge is not going to let this go. “Sven was Keith’s lover. Apparently, the only lover Keith’s had who lasted as such for any length of time. Though Keith said it wasn’t serious between them, I kinda wonder – I mean, they had this relationship for years. Keith doesn’t ever seem to want to talk about Sven. He flinches whenever anyone brings Sven up, did you notice?”
Pidge shakes his head wordlessly. He’d never seen Hunk so unsettled he’d babble before.
Hunk rambles on. “I bet Sven would have known what’s eating Keith. Though, from what Keith’s let me pry out of him, the two of them weren’t exclusive…”
Frowning a bit in thought, Pidge looks at Hunk. “You want to be exclusive.”
“Hell, yes! But if Keith doesn’t want to…” Hunk stares sightlessly through red lion. Whispering to himself, Pidge has to concentrate to hear him.
“I don’t think I can stand to share him. But I don’t want to cage him…”
Pidge frowns. “Hunk… You have to talk to him.”
Hunk slumps. “Yeah. I know. I’m just afraid of what he’s going to say.”
Stiffening, Keith’s eyes widen, taking in the distress call that could only have come from Sven.
Hunk, watching Keith closer than the others, stiffens as well. Keith’s old lover is alive. Terror and happiness mix in equal proportions. On the one hand, he’s happy that Sven’s alive and fighting. On the other – he’s Keith’s old lover. And it seems as though Keith might feel more for him than just friendship.
In the midst of the victory celebration, Keith shares with Sven a beautiful smile, and a very long hug.
Sven gently runs his fingers through Keith’s hair. “Get into trouble by yourself?”
Keith smiles slightly, reaching up to tug teasingly at Sven’s longer locks. “Not near as much as you. How are you doing?”
Sven’s eyes haze over, a slight, wondrous smile lighting his face. “I’m fine. Romelle has helped… a great deal.” Shaking his head, he lifts an eyebrow. Growling in mock menace, his eyes laugh at Keith. “You’re not trying to avoid answering me, are you?”
Rounding his eyes, for a moment Keith is a picture of injured innocence. “Would I do that?”
Sven intensifies his scowl. Though the effect is somewhat diminished by the fact that he can’t keep his eyes from laughing harder.
Keith grins slightly, all imp for a second before turning serious. “I got into trouble, but Hunk straightened me out.”
“Hunk?” Sven’s eyebrows rise. “I would have thought Lance…”
Keith’s smile twists, slightly. “You keep underestimating Lance’s sheer blindness when it comes to me.”
Sven shakes his head incredulously. “I don’t understand how someone so observant of others can be so careless with your concerns.”
Keith shrugs. “We grew up together; we’ve been best friends just about since birth. He just … assumes things about me.” Smiling wryly, he laughs back at Sven. “If it makes you feel better, I’m sure I’m equally blind when it comes to him. Besides – sex between us wouldn’t help me – I’m the dom in our relationship.”
Sven chokes, slightly.
Smile widening, Keith’s eyelid shivers in a slight wink, calm face belying his words. “That’s probably why I’m the only commander that has any sort of success at getting him to follow orders.”
Shaking his head, but not bothering to argue the point, Sven changes the subject. Flicking a quick glance toward a looming, frowning figure, his lips twitch. “Seems as though your lover isn’t very happy with you right now…” Smirking slightly, he continues. “Or with me.”
Keith shrugs carelessly, a normally deeply hidden recklessness glittering in his eyes before fading behind his usual mask. “He claimed me. But I have never been called ‘tame’. And I never promised to not to stray.” Keith lets a blatant ‘come-hither’ look ghost across his face.
Eyes widening, Sven throws his head back in a quiet burst of joyful laughter. Smiling widely at a smirking Keith, he manages to regain control. “I have missed you, my friend.”
Two pairs of glowering eyes, one brown and one blue, watch the interplay.
Lotor snarls as he tears apart more of Haggar’s painstakingly created robeasts, moving fluidly from one to the next, leaving them nothing but a pile of bone and gristle and bloody meat.
Frowning Haggar watches her Prince take out his frustrations.
Zarkon leans casually over the arm of his throne, eyes locked on the fast movements of his son. “Old witch, you’d better think of something soon, or you won’t have any robeasts left.”
“Yes, Sire.”
Stalking away from the arena, Lotor’s glower is more than enough to send guards scurrying for shelter.
Throwing himself on his dais, he stares unseeing through the hapless dancing slaves, before abruptly waving them off so he can brood in peace.
He thought he’d broken that fool space explorer who’d told him without words that Keith was his. He thought he’d destroyed that husky voiced Princess in lieu of Allura. He had Keith under his control, pleading for more, begging him for every scrap of attention he cared to bestow.
Now, that space explorer is back and more annoying than before. Somehow, a broken space explorer and a silly nit of a shattered princess managed to escape from his carefully designed torments – and get back in contact with Arus. And Keith looks through him with infuriating calm, because of that large, awkward, graceless lunk of a lion pilot.
Body tightening, Lotor dwells on the injustice of it all, winding himself up more.
“So, my Prince. Angry at losing your toys, are you?”
The amusement in Haggar’s cracked voice causes Lotor’s face to twist into an even more elaborate snarl. “I wish to be alone, witch.”
“Now, now, my Prince. You just tore through my best robeasts.”
“If those were your best, it’s no wonder Doom always loses to Voltron.”
At Lotor’s disdain, Haggar’s eyes narrow, but she refuses to rise to the bait. “I have an idea, your highness. I have a way that will draw your pretty princess out of her castle and away from her protectors.”
Lotor snorts, and refuses to look at Haggar.
Coolly, watching Lotor intently, Haggar continues. “And if pretty Allura is drawn out of her castle, her captain will certainly follow to bring her back.”
At the mention of Keith, Lotor’s body twitches involuntarily.
Hidden deep in her cowl, Haggar smiles. Lotor will, at least temporarily, stop tormenting her robeasts. That is a pleasure she prefers to reserve for herself.
Sven sighs, gently. Hunk still hasn’t said a word to him. But every time he and Keith meet, somehow Hunk manages to hover in the background. Keith’s not taking Hunk’s unsubtle survallence well -- each time, he acts more and more outrageously, flirting with Sven or an oblivious Lance, turning a cold shoulder to his lover until Hunk turns away, baffled. And then Keith will wink at Sven, smile at Lance, and stroll off to Hunk’s room.
Sven’s mouth twists, slightly. The way Hunk’s acting, Keith must have told him about their on again, off again relationship – without explaining much of anything about it. Running his hands through his hair, he grumbles internally to himself. Keith would delight in tormenting his lovers. Normally, he’d enjoy the game as well, but Romelle is starting to throw accusing looks at him. She’s not taking this in stride either. Since losing her is not an option, Sven takes a deep breath, and prepares to confront Hunk in his lair – the repair bay.
One step – and he’s stopped by the blare of a klaxon. Cursing internally, he runs back to the control room. Straightening matters with Hunk is going to have wait.
Voltron Force members all tumble into the control room – with one notable exception. Staring blankly at the peaceful scenes on the screen, all of them look accusingly at Coran.
Without apology, he stands firm before their glares. “Princess Allura is nowhere in the castle.”
Pidge frowns. “Is there some sort of celebration going on?”
Dryly, Keith interjects. “Lance is still here, so obviously not.”
Lance sputters. “Hey --!”
Coran clears his throat irritably. “Now is not the time. This is serious. Allura does not run off alone in the middle of the night – she was last seen by a guard at nine last night, retiring for the night.”
Romelle murmurs, “Did you check King Alfor’s grave?”
Rolling her eyes, Nanny glares indiscriminately around. “Of course we did. She’s not there. Go out and find her.”
Watching the flickering security screens, Lance ignores Nanny. Stiffing suddenly, he leans forward, frowning. “Pan back, will you Coran?”
Looking up at Lance, Coran lifts his eyebrow – and then gets out of the control chair, gesturing for Lance to sit.
Absently, Lance does. Fingers flick over the controls slowing in some places, blazing past others. Until, abruptly, he narrows the focus. Allura is tied up, in a clearing, unconscious. No one else is around.
As soon as they manage to get a fix on her location, the screen whites out.
Nanny gasps, and inhales hugely to yell.
Lance cuts her short. “I don’t like this.”
Keith frowns, leaning against Lance’s shoulder. “Neither do I.”
Sven shakes his head. “It’s a trap.”
Lance throws up his hands. “It’s so obvious – who would walk into that?”
Overcoming their paralysis, both Nanny and Coran start yelling. Pidge joins in, Hunk watches in amazement, Sven and Lance exchange disgusted glances.
Keith stares meditatively through the blank screen in front of him. Somehow, his quiet voice manages to cut through the babble. “I’d walk into that.” Almost absently, the fingers of his right hand rub against each other, as if caressing something that no one else can see. Hunk stiffens in growing protest, recognizing the gesture.
Lance bursts into speech before Hunk can find the words. “No. NO WAY. You’re not walking into that – you already know it’s a trap. We can all go--”
Keith snorts. “If all of us try to go, he’ll just take off with her.”
Glaring, Lance rises swiftly out of his chair, furiously meeting Keith’s eyes. “You’ve already been captured by him once – surely you don’t want to be captured by him a second time!”
Hunk growls. “You don’t, do you.” The timbre and tone of his voice betrays his jealousy and his expectation that Keith will do exactly what he says.
Pidge’s eyes widen.
Lance’s mouth drops open in shock, as he stares from Keith to Hunk and back again. Almost audible connections are being made in his head. He collapses back into the chair, stunned. “Keith --? Hunk? And Lotor? Without telling me?”
Sven hides his face in his hands. Lance sounds more outraged about not being in the know than about the actual facts. And he doesn’t really want to see what Keith will do to Hunk, now.
Keith stiffens. His back straightens with a snap, his chin rises – his whole posture speaks of outraged pride and bone-deep rage. For the moment he ignores Lance, eyes darkening, his gaze so cold Pidge can almost feel the air between him and Hunk drop to freezing. Voice very soft, Keith’s lips stretch in something that is not a smile. “You forget yourself, Lieutenant.”
Hunk flinches, and finds himself dropping his gaze, even as his posture snaps automatically to attention. “Keith--”
The quiet cold voice cuts him off again. “Lieutenant. You have seen fit to spread much of my private life before people who did not need to know. Contain yourself from spreading any more, please.” The barely restrained snarl in Keith’s voice strangles Hunk’s voice.
Turning his attention to the others, Keith meets the outraged expressions of Coran and Nanny, and the stunned looks of Lance and Pidge equally calmly. “I had sex with Lotor. Now, he wants me back. That’s why I have to be the one to go after Allura. Anyone else who goes will simply be captured if he goes alone and held until I go – or if more than one of us shows up, Lotor will leave with half of what he wanted – Allura.” Keith’s lips curve upward even more. “Currently, Lotor has some … misconceptions about me.”
Hunk flushes – the unspoken collorary to that is a slap to his face.
Keith’s eyes glitter at Hunk’s immediate response – but he doesn’t bother to comment. “Those misconceptions will give me the best chance of getting Allura safely back here.” Tilting his head to one side, he regards the rest of the people. “Questions?”
Mesmerized, they all shake their heads. Except Lance. He merely glares at Keith, the cant of his eyebrows telling Keith that they are going to have a very long talk, later.
A swift smile ghosting across his face for Lance, Keith nods and leaves.
Romelle grabs Sven by the arm, and hustles him off to her rooms.
Taking firm hold of his face, she tugs his head down until they are nose to nose. Though she’s smiling faintly at the surprise on his face, her eyes are deadly serious. “Sven. I promise to never ask this again. What is between you and Keith?”
His whole body tensing, Sven carefully cups his hands around Romelle’s, attempting to show with every fiber of his being that what he says is the whole truth. “Friendship. Nothing that threatens what’s between us.”
Looking deeply into his eyes for a long, agonizing moment, Romelle slowly nods.
Leaning forward, they seal their commitment with a gentle kiss.
Kicked out of the control room, Hunk stares moodily out a picture window. Watching silently, Pidge almost wishes Hunk would yell, or throw something – just to break the tension.
The door sliding open has both of them whipping around. Sven raises an eyebrow at their jumpiness. Acknowledging Pidge with a nod, he focuses on Hunk. “Want to talk?”
Face turning to stone, for a moment, Hunk looks as if he’s going to hit Sven. Sven regards Hunk calmly, unmoved. Hunk’s face collapses, and he slumps down into a chair. “Yeah…”
The hoarse voice hurts something deep inside Pidge. Swallowing, he settles in his chair, watching.
Sven sits down across from Hunk. Looking at him thoughtfully, he sighs gently. “You’ve gotten into this purely on instinct, haven’t you.”
Even though it isn’t a question, Hunk nods, almost involuntarily.
Sven frowns deeply. “Instinct is good, but it can only take you so far. Have you figured out what Keith wants?”
“I thought I knew, but after today…” Hunk pauses to regain control of his voice. “Now, I don’t know what to think.”
Sven sighs.
At the understanding in that sound, it’s as if a dam breaks inside of Hunk. Words come tumbling out, heedless of the consequences. “I thought he wanted to be dominated. The way he acted all the time… I’d do things to him that I never dreamed of doing to any other lovers – and he’d just melt for me. He’d always come around, always bend… And when I showed Lotor that Keith was mine, Keith seemed perfectly happy with that… But somehow, after that – he kept pulling away… he never talks about stuff, you know? I’m babbling my head off to him in bed, and he never says any words…. When we’re alone together, he’ll answer my questions but he never volunteers anything… And then you come back, and it’s as if the two of you have this secret language… And he opens up to you, laughs with you…”
As the words spill out of Hunk’s mouth, Pidge’s mouth slowly drops open in shock. At Sven’s swift sideways glare, Pidge snaps his mouth shut. Hunching his shoulders, Pidge does his best to blend into the furniture. No way is he going to leave Hunk alone now. Even if Hunk seems to have forgotten his presence.
Frowning quellingly at Pidge, Sven turns to more urgent concerns. Reaching out, he grips Hunk’s hands – the touch stopping the flow of words. “First – Keith and I are friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Second – Keith has always demanded a price of his lovers. A bargain is what he called it, the one time he was drunk enough to try explaining it to me. He lets his lovers use his body – because he wants to use their minds.” Frowning, Sven looks through Hunk, seeing other people in his place. “Keith’s lovers tend to dump him as soon as he shows them what else he is, besides the pliable bottom.”
Hunk stiffens. “He wants to fuck with my mind? It’s a game to him? I could have sworn he was completely sucked in by Lotor…”
Sven’s mouth hardens in anger. “That’s the problem. In the first stages of Keith’s peculiar way of courtship, he is extremely vulnerable. He tends to do whatever the other person wants, just in the hope that this person will be the right person. Or even close to right. And he tends to drift to the amoral sort – which leads to them taking a great deal of advantage of him. Which is why I would step in.”
“You don’t really want him?” Hunk’s incredulous tone has Pidge clamping his hands over his mouth to stop his giggles.
Sven sighs again. “Keith and I have been friends for far too long for the idea one of us in control of the other to be more than a game. But I am able to give him enough of what he wants that I can snap him out of his infatuations.”
“So – what? I’m just an infatuation? Or can I work myself up to fuck-buddy status like you?”
Shutting his eyes, Sven manages to keep most of his irritation from his voice. “We are not ‘fuck-buddies.’” Opening his eyes, he pins Hunk with his annoyed glare. “If you want the sort of relationship I have with him, you have to show him that you can deal with all of him. At the least, you have to be able to handle the part of him that’s your Captain, as well the part that plays bottom for you.” Frowning, Sven studies Hunk with a doubtful air. “ If you want more, you’d better be sure that you want all of him. You have to be able to read his body language and be able to tell when he needs to dominate with his body as well as his mind. You have to pick up on his cues and play the games that he enjoys.”
Hunk’s eyes are wide, and his voice quavers. “I haveta be able to read him?”
Sven’s mouth twitches up in involuntary humor. “If you want all of him, and show it, he’ll make allowances. At the start, his body language will be much more obvious. Like now.”
Hunk flinches.
Smiling grimly, Sven continues. “Eventually, you’ll learn the subtleties.” Narrowing his eyes, Sven drops his voice, freezing Hunk in place. “First, you’d better figure out what you really want from Keith. Because if you hurt him, I will hunt you down.” Sven’s perfectly measured delivery sends shivers down Hunk’s spine.
A calm voice from the doorway has all three occupants jumping from their seats. “And I’ll tear you to pieces.” Hunk flinches at the emotionless tone of Lance’s words.
“Lance! I thought you were watching the screens…” Pidge’s babble gives Hunk and Sven time to recover from their surprise.
Lance shrugs. “Nanny and Coran were too much to be around for too long. Besides, the white out’s clearly part of the Doom trap. Banging on the machine’s not going to help.”
Turning back to Hunk, Lance spears him with a measuring gaze. “Decide if you can take all of him. Or set him free now. If you cage him with ‘love’ and discard him, I’ll make sure there’s nothing left of you for you or anyone else to take pleasure in.”
Hunk’s stunned gaze shifts between the suddenly-menacing Lance and the always-menacing Sven. He gulps, and nods, carefully.
Both of them smile. Pidge shudders.
Ignoring the pounding in her head, Allura watches Lotor’s every movement. He’d tricked her, cozened her, luring her away from her castle and her protectors with a fake ghost of her father. He used her wistful yearnings for guidance against her.
And now, she’s lying on the ground, bound hand and foot, gagged – with a bomb collared around her throat. Bait.
Doing her best to look frightened and cowed, Allura surreptitiously works on freeing her hands and legs.
Lotor is going to pay.
Sliding carefully closer to the clearing, Keith suddenly stiffens. A large, muscled body closes around him, controlling him. Strong hands pull his helmet off, dropping it carelessly to the ground with a soft thud. The body behind him moves him into the clearing, before a horrified Allura’s eyes.
Long, graceful gloved hands stroke their way across his chest. Biting his lip, Keith’s eyes widen in dismay as he feels his body responding involuntarily. Soft breath puffs against his ear, soft hair strokes against his face. Shuddering Keith’s hands clench, his body tightening in a futile attempt to deny his reaction to the prince of Doom.
Allura watches this, shock written in her huge blue eyes. Meeting Keith’s eyes, she can see revulsion and lust mixed with a helplessness that mirrors her own. Face back under control, Allura nods slightly in firm, unequivocal acceptance to Keith. Then she paints over her mask the emotions that Lotor wants to read from her.
Unaware of the lightening-fast communication between his captives, Lotor focuses completely on his new prey. Sliding his legs between his prisoner’s Lotor pushes his pelvis against Keith’s, forcing Keith’s legs wider. Delicately taking hold of Keith’s earlobe, Lotor bites down, nibbling and licking, relishing the shudders that wrack the captive body in his arms. Feeling the long muscles coil, Lotor smiles unpleasantly. Breathing his words into Keith’s ear, he flicks a look at Allura, enjoying the frustrated helplessness that radiates off of her, before concentrating on the drift of silky hair, the softness of the skin next to his face. “Fight me, and she dies. The collar of ownership you see? Should I press this trigger – it will explode. Disobey me. Take the chance that you can reach the trigger before your precious princess becomes a messy smear on this lovely forest green. Take the chance, and I will laugh as Arus shatters under Doom’s control, without her.”
Swallowing hard, Keith looks at Allura, and with a movement so slight that Lotor can’t feel it, gestures at Lotor.
Allura’s eyes glitter with suppressed rage. The set of her mouth and the wrinkle in her brow tell Keith that she’s not free yet.
Frowning slightly, Keith looks warningly at her, and then melts in Lotor’s arms, a blush spreading across his face.
The rage in Allura’s eyes intensifies briefly, and she carefully fights her bonds with increased speed.
Feeling the hot color that stains Keith’s cheeks, Lotor grins. “Don’t you like performing for Allura?” Turning his head away, Keith almost jerks out of Lotor’s hold, before he remembers himself.
A cruel light in his eyes, Lotor trails his hands suggestively down Keith’s abdomen, taking firm hold of his genitals through the uniform, outlining his erection obscenely.
Shuddering, Keith turns even redder.
Hissing softly, Lotor’s triumph is complete. “Yess… I think I have the perfect punishment. You tried to replace me with that lunk. Being taken and enjoying it before your Princess will be the start of what you owe me.”
Paling now, Keith shuts his eyes, shivering, hands clenching and unclenching, muscles tight. Submitting to Lotor’s will.
Lotor pulls back slightly, admiring the unwilling surrender in Keith’s body. Moving slowly to be sure that every moment is ground into Keith’s and Allura’s minds – he undresses Keith. As each article of clothing is removed, Lotor trails his mouth and hands across more and more of Keith’s skin. Pushing him suddenly into an untidy sprawl on the ground, Lotor kneels more gracefully and peels off Keith’s leggings and footwear. Pausing a moment to admire the view, Lotor resumes staking his claim on Keith’s body, stroking a different sort of tension into the bunched muscles.
Soon, Keith is quivering all over. Even when Lotor tauntingly caresses him with the trigger that holds both him and Allura hostage, all he does is bite his lip in frustration, eyes huge and pleading.
Allura snarls soundlessly, her bonds finally loose. Getting ready to pounce, she hesitates, taking in the warning in Keith’s eyes. Shocked, she stares at him for a moment more. The urgent message in Keith’s eyes grows stronger. Frowning, she eases back. Eyes narrowing, suddenly she flicks a look at Lotor’s utter fixation on Keith’s naked body, laid out before him. Understanding lighting her eyes, she bites her lip in frustration, but tilts her head slightly forward in agreement of the plan. Keith closes his eyes in relief.
Still clothed, kneeling between Keith’s spread legs, Lotor shakes off the memories of the past. He frowns at Keith’s closed eyes, even as he admires the striking difference between the pale cheekbones and dark lashes. Freeing his genitals, Lotor pushes his pelvis forcefully against Keith’s. Rubbing deliberately, he licks his lips at the delicious, involuntary squirming as the harsh cloths grind into Keith’s sensitive skin. Above his head, Keith’s hands claw at the ground; his eyes startle open at the pain. Lotor traces a long line up Keith’s belly and chest, making his way to Keith’s face, yellow eyes locked with Keith’s. One gloved finger insolently traces the full curve of Keith’s lower lip; the trigger held tauntingly a few centimeters from Keith’s face. Then, Lotor casually pushes two fingers from his other hand deep into Keith.
Legs spreading wider, heels digging in, responding to the pain, Keith locks the scream behind his teeth. Bending over Keith, Lotor’s eyes glow with an insane light. “You are mine. No one else’s. Clearly, pleasure was not the right way to show you the truth of this.” With an insulting stroke against Keith’s prostate and a sharp scissoring action, Lotor yanks his fingers out as abruptly as he forced them in.
Behind her, Allura’s nails bite into her palm at Lotor’s declaration. She barely has enough control to maintain the façade of her helplessness, rather than project her towering fury.
Keith whimpers helplessly when Lotor thrusts inside of him. Biting his lip, his head thrown back, silky hair a swirl of darkness against the grass, Keith shudders at the invasion.
Panting harshly, Lotor leans more of his body weight on Keith, forcing deeper penetration. Unthinking, he braces his new position by leaning on his hands, planting them above Keith’s head, fingers tangling with Keith’s.
Growling his demands for utter surrender in Keith’s ear, attention absorbed by the hot tightness surrounding his cock, Lotor doesn’t notice when Keith’s fingers take control of the trigger. And the increasingly loud cries in his ear combined with the hot proof of Keith’s lust for him keeps his attention from wandering above his waist. Cruel laughter gusts against Keith’s face, while yellow eyes glitter in triumph at the way Keith’s body takes pleasure in the pain, even as brown eyes cry denial.
Driving in harder, deeper, Lotor deliberately massages Keith’s prostate, until with a protesting wail, Keith comes.
Smiling in scorn, Lotor loses himself in the rhythm, driving into the now-pliant body beneath him until he finds release.
Gloating at the surrender, thinking the verbal acknowledgment will shortly follow; Lotor is completely unprepared for the kick to the head that Allura delivers. Attempting to trigger the bomb, Lotor’s moment of stunned realization that he no longer has the trigger in hand gives Keith the chance to shove Lotor completely off of him.
Dizzy from the blow to the head, mind attempting to desperately process the fact that neither Allura nor Keith were even close to being broken, Lotor is easy prey to the two determined and furious Voltron force members.
Tying Lotor up with the ropes that he had tied Allura with, the two of them regard their handiwork. Satisfied that he isn’t going to escape anytime soon, Allura tilts an inquiring eyebrow at Keith. Gesturing grandly, he bows her forward.
Calmly, Allura kicks Lotor on the other side of his head, sending him spinning into unconsciousness.
Keith shares a fierce smile with Allura.
Watching Lotor, Keith cleans himself off as best he can and redresses as Allura calls Castle Control. They need Hunk and Pidge to get the bomb-collar off of Allura.
Lifting an eyebrow at Sven, Lance tilts his head to the door.
Smiling ruefully, Sven half-bows to Hunk and Pidge walks out. Lance follows, a very determined look on his face.
Breath rushing out in huge sigh of relief, Pidge slumps back into his chair. “My god. I never knew that Lance could be so scary…”
Hunk rubs his arms, trying to calm the goose pimples down. “Brrr.”
Regarding his large friend, Pidge adjusts his glasses. “Hunk. You’d better figure out what you want. I don’t think anyone or anything could protect you from the both of them.”
Rubbing his forehead, Hunk smiles ruefully at Pidge. “Except Captain Keith, you think?”
Pidge shouts in laughter. Hunk joins him. If there’s the slightest note of hysteria to the sounds, neither of them comments.
Catching his breath, Pidge contemplates nagging Hunk until he figures out what he wants.
And then the klaxon goes off.
Surging out of their chairs, they rush to the control room.
Walking calmly into his rooms, Sven gestures Lance in, and then makes sure the door is locked.
Turning around, he’s confronted by a furious Lance.
“You knew about all of this! When Keith dropped his bombshell you weren’t surprised!”
Sven winces. “Lance, calm down -- ”
“Keith’s my best friend! Don’t you think you ought to have told me what was going on!?!”
“Lance!” Shouting, Sven rubs his face before managing to continue in a quieter voice. “Look, it was private. What don’t you understand about the concept?”
Growling, Lance gives Sven a menacing stare.
Sven glares right back at him. “Besides – you said it yourself. The two of you are best friends. Why don’t you notice when he’s going into one of his funks? Or when a lover is taking advantage of him?”
Lance’s face hardens. “Bloody hells, he hides that stuff from me! You try to figure something out that Keith truly doesn’t want you to! It’s damn difficult. And since he knows me so well, it’s that much easier for him to hide stuff. It took me years before I even found out he had a sex drive! He plays so many games, I can’t tell when he’s playing and when he’s really losing it.” Face darkening, Lance growls. “Besides, if I could help him, don’t you think I would? He’d never accept that sort of help from me. No matter how much he flirts with me, no matter how much we love each other, it’s just doesn’t translate into sex.” Glowering at his feet, Lance mutters half to himself. “Unlike what’s between you and him.” Raising his voice and his head, he glares at Sven, frustration vibrating through him. “So I’m left with guessing. And half the time, I guess wrong.”
Sven’s mouth gapes open at the tirade.
Lance smiles humorlessly. “Now, I find out that all that fretting and sneaking around was a waste of energy. You knew! You bloody well could have told me.”
Mouth moving silently, Sven can’t think of what to say. Before he can figure it out, the klaxon sounds.
Sven snaps his mouth shut, and nods in wary respect to Lance. Lance snorts.
They run to the control room
Settling against a tree, a good ways away from the unconscious Lotor, Allura raises an eyebrow as Keith hesitates a moment, and then gently reaches out to stroke some of the soft white hair out of their captive’s face.
Reddening, Keith raises his chin and carefully walks over to Allura, lowering himself slowly to his knees.
Looking at him steadily, Allura gaze seems to weigh Keith’s soul.
Keith manages to meet her eyes calmly, even as he turns even redder.
Quietly, she reaches out, lightly placing her hand on his arm, leaning her head against his shoulder.
Resting, wordlessly at peace, the two of them await the others.
Clawing his way to consciousness, Lotor is furious. They tricked him!
Before he manages to get his thoughts past that point, an insidious, familiar voice curls its way into his mind. “My prince. I can keep you from Alliance justice.”
Trying to keep up the appearance of being unconscious, Lotor just growls.
“Now, now. Patience and a promise, and you will be out of there.”
Snarling, giving up, Lotor grumbles. “What?”
“Stay away from my robeasts. Take your anger out on something else.”
“Witch…”
“Do you want to have a taste of Alliance prison?”
“Fine. I promise.”
“Ah, ah – I know you. Now promise properly.”
Lotor’s eyes, barely slit open, shine with ire. “By the greater Dark and the bright Light, I, Prince of Doom swear to spare the creations of the witch Haggar from wrath not their due. Happy, witch?”
“Oh, yes.” The delight in the hissing mental voice has Lotor grinding his teeth.
A flare of light, and Lotor disappears, before Allura or Keith can manage to climb to their feet.
They are still staring at the mess of ropes where he used to be, when the four lions come to take them home.
Hunk’s eyebrows fly up. Keith’s hand is placed lightly on Allura’s back, and the air between them fairly sings with secrets.
Keith flicks him a cool look. “Hunk. Pidge. Get over here. This is the trigger for the bomb.”
Pulling on his detachment, Hunk nods as he and Pidge come over and cautiously take control of the trigger and begin studying the device to figure out how to take off the collar without triggering the bomb.
One last sideways glance at Keith, and Hunk spares a moment to study him, wondering what feels off about him. Something in how he moves, or the way there’s only distance in his eyes, rather than the usual half-taunting, half-flirting look or the Captain look… Shaking his head, Hunk tries to force himself to concentrate on the bomb. Whatever’s wrong with Keith, Sven and Lance are going to take care of it, from the way the two of them are hovering. Grimacing at that bitter thought, he tries telling himself that it doesn’t matter who Keith turns to, so long as he turns to -someone. Deep inside, a voice wails that Keith ought to turn to him and no one else…
Pidge whacks Hunk on the arm. “Brood later. Now we gotta separate the Princess from this bomb.”
Flushing, Hunk meets the wise blue eyes of Princess Allura, and mutters an apology. Finally, most of his brain settles into the familiar puzzle of figuring out new machinery.
Sven’s eyes narrow, rage beginning to glow behind them, as he takes in the slight hesitation in his stride as Keith walks to them. Looking between Sven and Keith, Lance frowns as well.
Keith eyes glitter dangerously at both of them. A meaningful flick of his eyebrow to an absorbed Hunk and Pidge and a calmly watching Allura has them shutting their mouths on questions.
Instead, they both causally grip Keith’s hands in greeting. Lance rocks slightly on his heels, frustration seething beneath his calm surface. Sven merely looks glacial, his rage hiding deep inside.
Keith shuts his eyes, leaning against red lion. Safe.
Riding in Red Lion back to the castle, Keith ignores the sideways glances Lance gifts him.
Just as they are about to reach the castle, Lance calmly speaks. “You’re still going to have to talk to me, you know.”
Smiling at the familiarity, Keith doesn’t bother to open his eyes. “I know.”
Muttering to themselves, Hunk and Pidge sweep a patiently waiting Allura off to the repair bay, where they have more tools with which to work. The bomb-collar is proving to be surprisingly resistant to their efforts to remove it.
Sighing quietly in relief, Keith starts to limp off to his room.
Calmly, Sven paces him, stopping when Keith does.
Keith frowns.
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Sven lifts an eyebrow, unmoved.
Lips twisting up in a wry smile, Keith gestures his acquiescence.
Side by side, the two of them continue on to Keith’s room.
Watching the by-play, Lance narrows his eyes.
Once inside the room, Sven turns to Keith. “Strip.”
Keith sighs. “I’m fine…”
Sven glares until Keith starts taking off his clothes. Every time is the same. Shaking his head at Keith’s stubbornness, Sven finishes pushing the bedcovers off, and covering the sheets with soft towels. Straightening, his breath catches as he looks at Keith.
Bruises mar the pale skin everywhere. One earlobe is red and swollen.
His hands are ringed by long purple finger marks. The tips of his fingers are filthy with dirt pushed deep under the nails. Keith’s chest, genitals, and inner thighs are chaffed and bleeding. One spectacularly large bruise is blooming on his left hip. That bruise, and the bloody semen trickling slowly down one leg probably caused Keith’s limp.
Face tightening, Sven gestures abruptly for Keith to lay down.
Wordlessly, he lies facedown on the towels. Sven hisses at the evidence of damage to Keith’s back – dirt is ground into his shoulders, ass, and the bottom of his feet -- bruising evident on all the pressure points. In this position, the sluggish bleeding from his hole is more evident.
“You should see a doctor.”
Keith sighs into the pillow. “It’s not that bad, and you know it.”
“No, I don’t. Keith – if you’re still bleeding, you really ought to --”
“No doctors.”
Rolling his eyes, even though Keith can’t see him, Sven gives up. “Fine. But, Keith, I’m going to have to take a look, just to be safe.”
Relaxing into the bed, Keith smiles. “I trust you.”
Helplessly feeling the warm glow those simple words give him, Sven carefully begins cleaning Keith off. Both relax as the familiarity of the routine embraces them.
Stretching hugely, Hunk and Pidge share a relieved grin with Allura. Finally they managed to get the bomb detached and safely disarmed.
Rolling her neck, Allura hesitates for a moment, looking oddly at Hunk.
Startled, Hunk shoots her a questioning look. “What is it?”
Shaking her head, Allura pastes on a smile. “Nothing. Except – thanks.” Looking down at Pidge, she ruffles his hair affectionately. “To you both.”
Smiling at her, Pidge shakes his head in negation. “Our job, Highness.”
Bowing absurdly formally, he manages to make her laugh as she leaves.
Hunk watches her, wondering what she was going to tell him, before she changed her mind.
Hesitating in front of the door, Lance raises his hand to knock. Then, decisively, his hand darts to the keypad, typing in a code. Silently the door slides open.
Walking in with a determined look, Lance’s eyes go wide at the picture before him.
At the door opening, Sven whips around into a battle stance, Keith rolling off the bed to stand a small ways behind Sven, also ready. Bloodstained towels rest in heap on a tarp to one side. Next to them is tub of very filthy water, with equally filthy washcloths floating inside it. On the other side, an open container of a strongly medicine smelling salve rests next to a vial of massage oil.
Sven’s wearing only pants, his chest and hair slick with sweat.
Keith’s naked, his body coated equally with healing salve and massage oil, gleaming.
Lance lifts an eyebrow as the door shuts behind him, but the snipe dies in his mouth as he takes in the damage on Keith’s body. Instead of a witty remark, he growls. “What happened?”
Keith frowns at Lance. “What are you doing, entering without knocking?”
Sven very carefully backs away from between them.
Lance glowers right back at Keith. “Don’t pull that one on me, Cat. From how Sven was acting I figured that there was something wrong. But this…”
Sven winces. This was not the way he would have picked to let Lance know just how much he missed of Keith’s life.
Answering automatically, as he sinks back down on the bed, Keith doesn’t realize what he’s said until it’s too late. “This is nothing.”
“Nothi--” Fury rising inside of him, Lance also speaks without thinking. “Cat, you were raped!”
Keith stops Lance’s incipient rant with an irritable wave of his hand.
“Depends on which planet’s rules you go by. At least, this time it does. A few times before, all but the narrowest definitions would have fit. This isn’t very bad. The bruising should be invisible in a day or so, and the bleeding’s already stopped.” Mouth snapping shut too late, Keith looks sideways at Lance, his body tensing almost imperceptibly as he awaits Lance’s response.
Sven bites his tongue, hoping that Lance will answer properly.
Lance opens and shuts his mouth. And then he surprises both of them. Walking over to Keith, and kneeling so that they’re face to face, he looks at Keith with sorrow. “I’m your best friend. And you feel that you can’t trust me?”
Meeting Lance’s solemn eyes, Keith hesitantly lets down a few barriers, showing Lance a glimpse of a wounded part of him that only Sven had ever seen before. “Sven took care of me, balanced me. I didn’t want to lose the balance I had with you, because of them.”
Carefully reaching out to stroke the black hair away from Keith’s face, Lance nods, understanding in his eyes. “I can’t say this won’t change things. But you’ll always be my best friend, my Captain, my protector, my older brother in every way that matters.”
Relaxing muscles he hadn’t realized he’d tensed Keith smiles and gently catches a hold of Lance’s hand.
Sven breathes a sigh of relief.
Walking quietly up to Keith’s door, Hunk pauses, hand raised and ready to knock. Biting a lip, he hesitates for a long moment, listening as hard as he can. Just barely, he can hear the soft moans of Keith-pleasure, interposed with an accented voice. Grinding down his jealousy, Hunk retreats. Tomorrow, he and Keith are going to have to talk.
Finishing the massage, Sven cleans his hands, and then hesitates.
Reading him easily, Keith rolls carefully on his back to meet his eyes.
“I’ll be okay.”
“I know, but it would be better--”
Keith shakes his head. “She’s been very understanding, but there’s really no point in pushing her tolerance that much.”
From the depths of his chair, Lance startles both of them. “What are you talking about?”
Hesitating, visibly torn, Sven runs his fingers through his hair. “To keep him from shying away from everyone, Keith usually spends the night body to body with me.”
“But this time, there’s Romelle to consider. I’ll be fine, Sven.”
Sven frowns unhappily.
Tilting his head to one side, Lance smiles. “How about me?”
Blinking, Keith thinks. “That might work… At least, I’ll be better off than if I’m by myself. Or with Sven fretting about Romelle’s reaction.”
“Then it’s settled. Get out of here and back to your girl, Sven.”
Throwing up his hands, Sven bows to the two of them, and leaves.
Curled into Lance’s arms, Keith slowly relaxes.
After he judges that Keith’s relaxed enough, Lance mutters against his ear. “You want to talk, Catkin?”
Keith smiles, face hidden from Lance’s eyes. “Not really. Good try, Lancer.”
“Keith…”
“Lancer…” His smirk is audible. “You know that’s not how this goes.”
Snorting, the air ruffling the black strands in front of him, Lance smiles involuntarily. “Fine, Catkin. We’ll do this your way.” Pausing a moment, he considers the best line of attack.
Waiting patiently as the silence lengthens, Keith relaxes further in Lance’s arms.
Absently stroking a line of comfort down Keith’s flank, Lance figures out his first question. “Why Hunk?”
Blinking, Keith rearranges his thoughts. Of all the questions he’d thought Lance would ask, he figured that one would come later. “Hunk cares very strongly. I’m sure that’s not a surprise – he’s not exactly subtle. And there’s a gentleness in him that I don’t have that’s very attractive…” Keith trails off hopefully.
Lance’s silence is eloquent.
Grinning, Keith strokes Lance’s hand in acknowledgment, settling deeper in his embrace. “Hunk’s also very, very strong. Physically, in close quarters, he can overpower me. Emotions run very high in him – his passion is strong enough to shake me loose from my controls. And even though I’ve shown him that he could do anything to me, these past few weeks, he hasn’t ever physically hurt me.” Voice softening, Keith sounds almost wistful.
Tightening his arms cautiously, Lance ventures an observation. “I hear a ‘but’ in all of this.”
Keith shrugs uncomfortably. “Hunk doesn’t see me as a person, really. He sees me as an object.”
Startled, Lance freezes. “What makes you think that?”
“To him, I think only Pidge is really a person. Everyone else is very one-dimensional. He couldn’t handle it when I showed him more than two aspects of myself – the Captain aspect, the bottom, and the flirt. He’s got as many faces as I do – but how can we dance properly together, if he’s not willing to grant me the same complexity?”
Lance, stroking Keith soothingly, considers the knot of misunderstanding the two of them have woven between them. “I don’t think Hunk sees you as ‘simple’, Keith.”
Snorting, Keith squirms, settling deeper into the embrace of the bed. “That’s part of what’s so frustrating. Whatever he sees, he acts like I’m one dimensional.”
“Keith, have you ever thought how much easier your life would be if you just talked with people? Explained matters?”
“Can’t say that I have, Lancer.”
Muttering uncomplimentary descriptions, Lance’s voice eases Keith’s way into a dreamless sleep.
Biting his lip, Pidge looks at the door in front of him. A perfectly ordinary door, at the end of a hallway. Keith’s door. Something happened, even though he doesn’t know quite what did. Last night, Hunk had left, half-eager, half-worried about speaking with Keith, telling their captain about the bomb and how they managed to get it off of Allura. Pidge hadn’t expected to see Hunk again until breakfast time. Instead, he heard Hunk’s door slide open and closed fifteen minutes later. Half an hour after that, there weren’t any sounds of lovemaking -- which there would have been, had Keith been with Hunk. So, something happened. Pidge looks furtively down the hall. Maybe if he can get inside and surprise Keith, he can startle Keith into telling him what happened. Listening intently, he can’t hear a thing. Swiftly typing in a code, Pidge darts inside, hoping to catch Keith off guard.
Eyes rounding, mouth gaping, Pidge stutters to a halt.
Lance and Keith are curled together, naked, a thin sheet draped over their entwined bodies, thick bedcovers shoved haphazardly on and off the foot of Keith’s bed.
Bleary-eyed with sleep-tangled hair, two sets of eyes open and meet Pidge’s incredulous eyes.
Though his mouth is working soundlessly, Pidge can’t manage to make his feet move.
Face closing in icy anger, Lance breathes, “Get out.”
Gulping, Pidge turns and bolts, the door whispering shut behind him.
In the silence, Keith twists around so he can see Lance. Regarding the chill face before him, Keith’s eyebrows quirk slightly out of alignment. “I’d better change my door code.”
Keith’s voice is so matter-of-fact, for a moment, all Lance does is nod absently in agreement. Then, abruptly, his brain catches up to the present, and he starts laughing helplessly, anger diffusing almost against his will.
Smiling, Keith settles deeper in his friend’s embrace. He has a feeling that he’s going to need every memory of peace he can hold onto.
Curled into a small ball on his bed, Pidge bites his nails. The image of Lance and Keith together is emblazoned on his mind. He can’t stop thinking about it, or about how naturally the two of them flow together. Thinking back, more and more images of the past seem to hint at intimacy, of the two of them being more than just friends.
Closing his eyes, Pidge groans. Burying his face in his arms, he mutters. “What am I going to tell Hunk? And how can I avoid Lance?”
Smiling, Sven opens his eyes into golden haze. Inhaling, he can smell roses and rain. The soft body shifts in his arms, until he’s looking into clear blue eyes, haloed by a tangled mass of gold hair and a smile that warms him. Gently, he reaches out, trailing a hand up her cheek and stroking into her hair.
Smile widening, Romelle leans in and rubs noses with him. Easing out of his hold, she tosses, “Good morning!” over her shoulder as she disappears into the bathroom for her morning ablutions.
Relaxing into a bed still holding some of her warmth, Sven can feel a bubble of pure happiness rising inside of him. For this moment, he won’t worry about anything -- except how long his beloved is going to stay in the bathroom.
Sobering finally, Lance pulls back just enough so that he can look at Keith. Gently combing his fingers through the black strands, he looks at Keith worriedly. “Pidge is going to think we’re lovers. And he’s going to tell Hunk. Hunk acts like he thinks you’re sleeping with Sven because of the way the two of you have been carrying on -- and he might think you would have chosen to sleep with Lotor.”
Keith smiles faintly. “Relax. Whatever’s going to happen, will. And if he breaks up with me, it’s better now, rather than later.”
Lance’s mouth drops open, slightly, at Keith’s calmness. Then, his eyes narrow and his mouth firms. “So what happens when he doesn’t reject you? Or fly into a rage and hurt you?”
Blinking, Keith stares at Lance. That was not the question he had been expecting.
A grin peaking out behind his worry, Lance tilts his head slightly in polite inquiry. “Cat?”
“Lancer…” Keith shakes his head, puzzled. “I guess we go on…”
“And what -- you’ll keep looking for whatever you can do to get Hunk to dump you?”
Blushing slowly, Keith looks away from Lance’s steady gaze.
“Catkin -- you’re not being fair to Hunk or yourself.”
Nibbling at his lip, Keith looks at Lance’s throat rather than try to meet his eyes. Whispering, the admission wrenching out of him, Keith swallows hard. “I know.”
Hesitating, Lance carefully tightens his hold on Keith. “I think you’re going to be surprised.”
Voice sinking even lower, Lance almost can’t make it out when Keith whispers, “I hope so.”
Quietly sliding into Hunk’s room, Pidge hesitates for a moment. Then, shaking his head, he pads carefully to the loud, snoring lump in the bed. “Hunk?”
The lump turns over and snorts, but keeps on snoring.
Frowning, Pidge’s eyes narrow calculatingly behind his glasses. Calmly, he stalks over to the light switch and pushed it to full intensity.
An arm extends from the lump, flopping over his face to cover his eyes.
The snores don’t change.
Grumbling quietly, Pidge walks to the bed, and reaches out, yanking the arm down. “HUNK!”
With a snort, Hunk’s eyes pop open and he sits up, almost yanking Pidge off balance. Realizing it’s Pidge, Hunk collapses back on his bed, eyes half shutting. Yawning and stretching, he ignores his buddy’s nervous jittering.
Groaning, Hunk shakes his head and wakes up some more. “What is it?” Actually looking at Pidge, Hunk’s eyes widen and he reaches out a hand, worry filling him.
Pidge’s face is a tight knot of misery. “Hunk…” Searching, one last time for a way to say this, Pidge gives up and takes Hunk’s route. Bluntness. “I heard you come back last night. I wanted to find out what happened.”
Hunk stiffens, fear and anticipation mixing equally in his expression.
Pidge swallows hard, a blush slowly creeping into his face. “So, I found Keith’s door code, and tried to surprise him this morning, so I could get some answers.”
Hunk rubs his face with his hands. Muffled, his words turn Pidge redder. “I wish you’d’ve talked to me first. Keith does not deal well being surprised out of sleep.”
Pidge winces. “This time, it wasn’t Keith who objected.”
Every muscle becoming tight, Hunk scowls, hands dropping. Voice a growl, he tosses off his covers, and swings his legs over the side of the bed. “He was sleeping with Sven?”
Pidge bites his lip. “No. Lance.”
About to stalk off, Hunk just sinks back into his bed. “Lance? As friends, right?” The hope in his voice is painful to hear.
Pidge shakes his head. “The sheet was very, very thin. They were wrapped completely around each other, and I couldn’t see any lines where clothing might be.”
Hunk closes his eyes, pain twisting deep inside him. The defeat in his quiet voice has Pidge wanting to cry. “When we sleep together, he always, always pulls away. Touches me the least amount that I let him…”
Reaching out, Pidge gently rubs Hunk’s shoulder, comforting the best he can.
One last lingering kiss, and Sven prepares to greet the day and the troubles outside his door.
Pulling on a horrible face, he pauses just before triggering the door open.
Romelle laughs, and smiles encouragingly at him. Then she shoves him out the door.
Stretching, Keith pulls free of Lance, and starts dressing.
Yawning, Lance follows suit.
When they’re just about finished – someone raps firmly on the door.
Lifting his head, Keith shares a look with Lance.
The knock sounds again.
Carefully, Keith triggers the door open.
Hunk looks at Keith, completely calm. Pidge is hovering behind.
Tilting his head, Keith invites Hunk in.
Flicking a look at Lance, Keith makes a sharp gesture to the door.
Lance leaves, sweeping Pidge out with him.
Peeling away from Lance, Pidge looks furitively around. Then, he darts into the control room, and accesses the bug he planted in Keith’s room.
He’s so intent on watching, he doesn’t notice when Sven comes up behind, frowning. Inhaling to yell at Pidge, Sven’s stopped by a hand on his arm. Glancing back, Sven meet’s Lance’s eyes. Slowly, Lance shakes his head.
Lips twitching, Sven inclines his head in deep irony, but he leaves Pidge be.
Unaware of the two people behind him, Pidge concentrates on the conversation he’s overhearing.
Reaching out for Keith, Hunk pales when Keith backs instinctively away.
Letting his hands fall uselessly to his sides, Hunk bites his lip. “What do you want of me?”
Blinking away the vision of pale blue, elegant hands reaching for him, Keith focuses back on the present. Slowly, watching Hunk, he answers. “I want you to be perfect. I want you to understand without questioning. I want you to be something you can’t be.”
Hunk sits down, hard, on the floor. Desperately holding onto his control, Hunk manages to speak quietly, looking up at Keith. “If you tell me exactly what you want, I’ll do my best…”
Eyes wide, Keith carefully steps closer to Hunk, crouching down so that his face is a foot away from Hunk’s. Body absolutely still yet tense, Keith appears caught between the urge to run away and the urge to stay. “What is it that you want from me?”
Shutting his eyes, Hunk’s lip twist. He doesn’t want to see pity in Keith’s eyes. “I want a part of you that is mine alone. Sven has a part of you. Lance has another part. Maybe even Lotor has a part. I’d like one bit of you that is mine.” Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Hunk continues, though he still refuses to open his eyes. “If I knew that, I c-could share you. If I knew that you would come back to me.”
Reaching out gently, Keith hesitates, seeing a flash of blue skin and soft white hair, before Hunk’s drawn features reform. Briefly brushing Hunk’s cheek, Keith looks into wide, dark brown eyes. “You have that.” Trembling, feeling the familiar sickening sensation of freefall, Keith’s eyes are huge and dark, wounded windows that hint at pain he refuses to share – but that also radiate utter sincerity.
Afraid of moving, of shattering the moment, Hunk stares at Keith, stunned.
Hope rising in him crashes when Keith suddenly frowns, stands, and walks swiftly across the room.
At the sight of Hunk sitting devastated on the floor, Pidge tries to rise to his feet, only to be stopped by the strong grips on his shoulders. Jerking in surprise, he looks upward and pales at the expressions on Lance’s and Sven’s faces. Easing back down to his seat, Pidge swallows nervously, and watches as the scene unfolds before him.
Calmly pulling out a small device, Keith sets it out on his desk. A low hum fills the air.
Squinting, Hunk can just recognize the device as a very good signal-jammer. In stunned outrage he looks up at Keith.
Pidge pales as the image and sound suddenly whites out.
Lance smiles recklessly. “Did I forget to mention the fact that Keith hates being monitored?”
Pidge turns even whiter.
Sven’s brow creases in thought. “And just what would he do to Pidge…?”
Tilting his head in apparent solemn thought, Lance can’t quite smother the wickedness in his eyes. “Well. He won’t incapacitate him – we don’t really have any back-up pilots. Other than that, anything else is fair game.”
Pidge buries his head in his arms.
Turning gracefully around Keith hesitates. “I –” Clearing his throat, Keith looks away. “I forgot that I hadn’t swept my room for bugs for a while now. And Pidge probably planted something, sometime recently.” Licking his lips nervously, Keith’s voice softens even more. “He’s a good friend, and he’s worried about you. But he doesn’t have to witness all of this.”
Hunk turns bright red. “About that…”
Keith makes an abrupt gesture. “Don’t worry. I figure everything I tell you, you’ll tell Pidge. The two of you are that close, and it shows. I don’t have to make it easy for him, though.”
Hunk opens and shuts his mouth. Studying Keith, he can just see the nervous tremor in his leg, as if he’s forcing it still. Very quietly, Hunk promises, “If you really don’t want anyone else to know something, I won’t even tell Pidge. He’d understand that there are some things that he just doesn’t have to know. Even though he’d push, he wouldn’t be hurt.”
The tremor stops. Looking at Hunk through his lashes, Keith hesitantly smiles.
Hunk’s breath catches. The sweet smile and the look in Keith’s eyes sends a thrum of arousal throughout his body.
Keith stiffens as he takes in Hunk’s arousal. Trembling, he manages to pull on a semblance of his Captain mask. “I can’t…”
At the desperation that he can feel from Keith, Hunk manages control his body. Holding tight to the memory of Keith telling him that a part of him is his alone, Hunk manages not to ask ‘Why Lance? Why Sven? Why not me?’ Instead, he just nods, cautiously.
Keith relaxes, and smiles again.
Epilogue
Thoughtfully adjusting the delicate spell, Haggar smiles as the robeast emeshed in restraints wails, and tries desperately to pull free.
Now that Lotor can’t take out her robeasts, she’s able to implement improvements much, much faster.
It amuses her to watch his frustration. In two months, all of Lotor’s harem is cowering. His guards mysteriously disappear.
Haggar smiles as the robeast’s cries grow to staggering proportions.
Frowning at the pure, cloudless, blue sky, Allura suddenly spins around. “I want to go on a picnic.”
Before Nanny or Coran can muster a protest, Keith nods. “Good idea.” Locking gazes for a moment, Keith transmits his approval and understanding.
Coran throws up his hands. Nanny sniffs, and bustles off to ready the picnic basket.
The rest of the VF exchange looks and shrug.
Pidge and Lance’s chatter distracting her, Allura slowly relaxes in the forest. So smoothly she doesn’t realize it’s being done, Sven and Lance distract their companions when she tenses, as an unexpected sense-flash of a collar around her neck freezes her for a brief moment.
Wandering off, Hunk flops down on the grass in a clearing, very aware of Keith, hovering a few feet away.
Not expecting anything, Hunk just focuses on the feel of life all around him.
Hesitant footsteps come closer.
Hunk doesn’t open his eyes.
A weight settles cautiously down on his body, hands gently trace his face before sliding down to grip his shoulders. A silky head tucks itself under his chin. The first time Keith’s ever initiated an embrace.
Very carefully, Hunk moves, resting his hands on the slender shoulders against his chest. Keith tenses, and then relaxes.
Unable to help himself, a smile takes over Hunk’s face.
Owari.